USC-Clemson notebook: Clowney wreaks havoc

Saturday

Nov 24, 2012 at 12:01 AMNov 25, 2012 at 1:46 AM

Gamecocks defensive end racks up 4.5 sacks in win over Clemson

By MATT CONNOLLYmatthew.connolly@shj.com

COLUMBIA — South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney doesn’t know what it’s like to lose to Clemson, and he doesn’t plan on finding out.The sophomore sensation sacked Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd 4.5 times and wreaked havoc in the Tigers’ backfield all night as Carolina defeated Clemson 27-17 for its fourth straight win in the Palmetto State rivalry.“I don’t know how it feels to lose to Clemson, and I’m not going to know how it feels either because we’re not losing to them as long as I’m here,” he said after USC’s victory Saturday night.The 4.5 sacks by Clowney brought his season total to 13, passing the single-season school record of 10 held by Andrew Provence and Melvin Ingram.Clowney and the Carolina defense shut down the Tigers’ offense for three quarters, limiting Clemson to just three points after the first period.Entering Saturday’s matchup the Tigers were averaging more than 535 yards of offense, good for sixth in the nation. Clemson managed just 328 yards against the Gamecocks, with 163 of those coming in the first quarter.The Tigers also were averaging more than 44 points per game, which ranked fourth in the country.USC defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward said the key to his defense’s success was getting pressure on Boyd.“We had a good game plan going in to try to get to Tajh. We knew going into the game if he didn’t get his first read he was going to take off and run,” Ward said. He added that Carolina’s tough SEC schedule prepared it for Saturday’s game.“I think our style of football is a little bit different in the SEC. I think we play a lot more physical football,” Ward said. “When you play the schedule that we played, when we get to this game at the end of the season I think we’re battle tested.”ACE IS THE PLACE: Clemson receivers Sammy Watkins and DeAndre Hopkins have gotten a lot of national attention this season, but Carolina junior Ace Sanders out-performed them both on Saturday.Sanders set career-highs in receptions and yards with six catches for 119 yards in USC’s win.The Tigers’ duo finished with five catches for 80.POINTLESS SECOND: Clemson was held scoreless in the second quarter for the first time this season and its 14 points were the lowest first-half total since 13 in the season-opener against Auburn. The Tigers had scored at least 35 points in their previous four first halves.ONE FOR THE BOOKS: With the victory, USC head coach Steve Spurrier became the winningest coach in South Carolina football history. Spurrier now has 65 career wins, passing the 64 by Rex Enright.

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